Ringer Reef Winery

Ringer Reef Winery sits on a ridge above the Buckland Valley with Mt Buffalo filling the horizon, and the cellar door is set up so your dog can share it with you. Dogs are welcome across the outdoor seating, the lawn and the landing, which is where most of the good hours here are spent anyway. Bring a lead, pick a patch of grass under the trees, and settle in with a glass of something cool-climate.

The dog setup

Dogs stay outside at Ringer Reef. The lawn areas and the outdoor landing are fair game, whether you take a table or spread a picnic blanket on the grass, but the indoor tasting room is off limits. Because the property runs as a working farm, leads are required for the whole visit, not just when the sheep are close. Water and bowls are not guaranteed, so pack your own. If you want to taste through the range, staff will bring flights out to you rather than making you leave your dog at the door.

Max: On lead the whole time here. It is a working farm, and that rule does not bend.

The vibe

This is a small, family-run operation pouring estate-grown wines made on site. The list leans cool-climate: pinot noir, pinot grigio, chardonnay and a sparkling rose, with a cheese or grazing platter if you arrive hungry. Table service means you claim your spot, order, and stay put while the views do the rest. It is a relaxed, low-fuss stop that suits a road trip day when the dog is with you and nobody wants to rush.

Getting there and parking

The winery is at 68 Brockman Lane, Porepunkah, just off the Great Alpine Road between Myrtleford and Bright. Parking is on unsealed gravel right beside the cellar door, so the walk from car to lawn is short even for older dogs. Doors open at midday most days; the cellar door closes Wednesdays, so plan around that. Check the website before a public holiday visit, as high-country hours can shift with the season.

Close by with the dogs

Porepunkah makes a good base for a north-east Victoria loop. Keep the theme going at Brown Brothers Winery in Milawa, or stop for coffee at tiny of beechworth on a Beechworth detour. If you turn the day into a weekend, The Woolshed Cabins in Beechworth takes dogs, and there are more options on the Victoria wineries list. The Porepunkah destination page pulls the local picks together.

See more dog friendly wineries across Victoria at pawscapes.com.au/wineries/state/vic, and everything nearby at pawscapes.com.au/destinations/porepunkah.